Globe clock structure



Nov. 3, 1942. R. R. DUPLER 2,300,621

GLOBE CLOCK STRUCTURE Filed May 22, 1941 S 30 W g 70 7 g Patented Nov. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to globe clocks in which a globe has mechanism associated with it for indicating time.

An object of the invention is to produce an improved globe clock in which the time indicator is arranged inside of the globe and mechanism for operating the time indicator is located in the base or support for the globe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a globe clock with means to illuminate the inside of the globe and improved means to conduct energy to the illuminating means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a globe clock with the time indicating device inside the globe and the globe mounted for turning movement independently of the operation of the time indicator drive mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a globe clock of the above type in which the motor and driving mechanism for the clock are rotatable with the globe while being capable of driving the time indicator in proper synchronism irrespective of their positions of relative rotation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a time band supporting means in the form of integral lugs in one of the globe sections so that the operating mechanism is relieved of the load of supporting the time band and at the same time reduce the number of parts to a minimum.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a study of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of a globe clock incorporating the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail view showing the motor and drive mechanism substantially at a right angle to the position shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view of the time band.

Referring to the drawing, the globe clock illustrated comprises a sphere I of glass or other transparent or translucent material formed in two parts fitting together in overlapping relation. When it is desired to use the sphere as a terrestrial globe, a map of the world may be displayed on the outer surface thereof in a suitable manner so that upon illumination of the globe from the inside, the outside will also be illumif nated. The sphere I0 is mounted on a base I2 to which are connected wires I4 having a connecting plug I5 at the outer end. Switches I6 and I8 on the base I2 control a clock operating motor and a light source respectively.

The lower section of the sphere Ill is formed with an opening which ts a projection on a block 2| of a spacing or mounting collar 22. The collar is rotatable in a recess 23 formed in the upper part of the base I2. To complete the sphere securing means a plate 24 having a projection tting the opening 20 is secured to the block 2| from within the sphere by means such as screws 25. Thus the lower section of the globe is clamped between the collar 22 and plate 24 for rotation with the collar.

The inside of the base is hollow and extending through the upper wall thereof are a pair of telescoped tubes which pass through the center of the collar and into the sphere. The outer tube 21 is rotatable and has a plurality of upstanding arms 28 at its upper end to which is secured a time indicating band 30, a central ring 3I and spokes 32 between the band and ring being provided to transmit rotary movement to the band 38. The tube 21 is provided with a sleeve 34 which is threaded into an opening in the bottom of collar 22 and locked by screw 35 for rotation therewith. Depending from sleeve 34 are a pair of motor Supporting brackets 31. The sleeve is provided with a collar 39 which abuts a washer 40 in engagement with the underside of the upper Wall of the base to retain the sphere and its associated mechanism in assembled relation on the base while permitting rotation of the sphere.

The brackets 31 support a synchronous motor 42 of a type familiar to those skilled in the art, from which depends in effect a continuation of shaft 21 at 44 carrying three vertically spaced contact rings 45 to which are secured pick-up springs 46 engaging three concentric contact rings 41 mounted on an insulated plate 48 earried by the base. The rings 41 are suitably connected to the switches I6 and I8, as shown. The wires from the contact rings extend upwardly to the motor 42 and a pair of such wires lead to a base 50 of a suitable type on which an electric lamp 5I is mounted, such wires passing through inner tube 52 on the upper end of which base 50 is mounted. Also mounted on the upper end of tube 52 is a wire bracket 54 which extends on both sides of the lamp and provides a support for a connecting device 55 which holds the two sections of the sphere IG against separation. The connecting device extends through an opening in the upper section of the sphere in such manner that the bracket 54 is rotatable with the sphere.

Brackets 51 are provided respectively on the sleeve 34 and the motor'42 which support a split shaft 58 having a clutch 59 which connects the shaft parts. A worm gear 60 is mounted on shaft 58 and is driven by a worm 6I on the armature shaft of the motor 42, while a gear 62 also on shaft 58 is in mesh with a gear 64 secured to the lower extremity of outer tube 21. Thus, the motor 42 drives the tube 21 through a suitable gear train to rotate the time band at its proper speed.

The collar 22 is provided with diametrically opposite recessed portions ES slotted at 61. Adjacent the slots and projecting therethrough is a knurled time reset wheel 68 iixed to tube 21 to rotate the latter, clutch 59 being arranged to slip to permit setting of the time band independently of the motor and drive gearing.

The lower section of the sphere is provided with a plurality of spaced lugs 1D to support the time band 30 for rotation with respect thereto. The arrangement of lugs 10 is such that the time band rests thereon to take the load 01T the driving mechanism, and thus the tube 21 need serve only to rotate the time band. This is desirable, for example, when the globe is made of glass as the lugs may be formed as integral parts oi the lower section, additional supporting structure for the time band being unnecessary. At the same time, the openings at the north and south poles of the sphere are provided only for the connecting means for the two globe sections, as no other openings are required for a supporting structure, for the time band.

The band 30 comprises an annulus or ring of glass or other suitable translucent or transparent material and is calibrated as shown in Figure 3 as at 12, numbers and other indicia designating the time. It will be apparent that when the lamp 5I is energized, the indicia 12 will be visible from the outside of the globe.

From the above it will be apparent that the motor 42 imparts turning movement to the time band 30, independentlyr of the position of the sphere with respect to the base, and that rotation of the sphere on the base carries the motor with it without interruption of the current flow to the motor and lamp due to the contact ring arrangement. Thus, it will be seen that a simple arrangement has been provided which enables the globe to be used in the usual manner, and at the same time provides a clock, the operation of which is not hampered by the use of the structure as a globe.

Numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as deiined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A globe clock comprising a base, a sphere mounted on said base for turning movement with respect thereto, a time indicating band within said sphere rotatable relative thereto, a lamp within the sphere for rendering the time band visible from. the outside of the sphere, and clock mechanism in said base and rotatable with said sphere for driving said time band irrespective of relative positions of rotation between said time band and sphere.

2. A clock comprising a terrestrial globe having translucent walls, a translucent time indicating band within said globe having indicia for designating the time, a stationary base on which said globe is rotatable, an electric clock mechanism within the base for rotating said time band, said clock mechanism being mounted for rotation with said globe, and means vfor energizing said clock mechanism including relatively rotatable contact elements between said base and clock mechanism.

3. A clock comprising a base, a translucent globe mounted on said base for turning movements, a pair of telescoped tubes projecting inside of said globe, a time band mounted on one of said tubes for rotation therewith, a lamp within said globe and mounted on the other of said tubes, and an electric clock mechanism within said base and having a gearing connection with the rst of said tubes for turning the latter.

4. A clock comprising a base, a globe mounted on said base for turning movements, a tube projecting inside of said globe, a time band mounted on said tube, a motor in said base, gearing between said motor and said tube, and means for turning said tube independently of said motor including a knurled hand wheel on said tube and a slip clutch interposed in said gearing.

5. A clock comprising a base, a globe mounted on said base for turning movements, a pair of telescoped tubes projecting inside of said globe, a time band mounted on one of said tubes for turning movement therewith, clock mechanism for turning said tube, a lamp mounted cn the other of said tubes, and lead wires connected to said lamp passing through said latter tube.

6. A globe clock comprising a base, a sphere mounted on said base for turning movements, a time band in said sphere, a clock motor in said base for rotating said time band, said motor and sphere being clamped together with a portion of the base therebetween and turnable independently of the rotation of said time band, and means for rendering said time band visible through said sphere.

'1. A globe clock comprising a base, a translucent sphere mounted on said base for turning movements, a time band within said sphere, a tube projecting inside of said sphere and arranged to rotate said time band, a sleeve surrounding the lower end of said tube and connected to said sphere for turning movement therewith, a motor carried by said sleeve and geared to said tube for rotating the tube, and means to energize said motor to rotate said time band irrespective of turning movement oi said sphere and motor.

8. A globe clock provided with a base having a motor mounted therein, comprising a translucent sphere made up of two sections, a time indicating band within said sphere, a plurality oi spaced lugs formed on the inner wall of one of said sections for supporting said time band for turning movements, a tube inside of said sphere having an end connected to said time band, the other end of said tube extending into said base and geared to the motor, a second tube within the rst mentioned tube, and a lamp supported on said second tube inside of said sphere for rendering said time band visible through said sphere.

9. A terrestrial globe clock comprising a base, a motor in said base, a translucent sphere mounted for rotation on said base, a source of light in said sphere, said light source being mounted on a tube extending into said sphere, a second tube surrounding said tube and geared for rotation by said motor, a time band rotatable with said second tube, and means formed in the wall of said sphere for supporting said time band for rotation.

10. A clock comprising a base, a sectional globe mounted on said base for turning movements, a tube projecting inside of said globe, a time band connected to said tube for turning movement therewith, means formed integral with a globe section for supporting said time band, and clock` mechanism in said base for turning said tube.

11. A clock comprising a base, a globe mounted on said base for turning movements, said globe being formed of upper and lower sections, a tube RAYMOND R. DUPLER. 

